Ditching-machine.



No. 69!,141. Patented Ian. M, I902.

D. J. HOFFMAN &. J". W. HELM.

DITCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 12, 1901.)

(No Model.)

anvznlo'cs fill? man and JWJeM airiaio STATES DAVID J. HOFFMAN AND JOHNW. I-IELM, OF PARAOHUTE, COLORADO.

DiTCl-liNG-=MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 6 dated January 1 2-Application filed August 12, 1901. Serial No. 71,699. (No odel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, DAVID J. HOFFMAN and JOHN W. HELM, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Parachute, in the county of Garfield andState of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDitching-Machines and we do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to ditchingmachines, and more particularly tomachines for forming irrigating-ditches.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this characterwhich shall be simple of construction, durable in use, comparativelyinexpensive of production, and one which will make a smooth even ditchand pack the soil at the wall of the ditch to prevent it from looseningand falling down into the ditch and offering an obstruction to thewater.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointedout in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of ourimproved ditching-machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, and Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view.

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes the frame, which preferablyconsists of the side pieces 2, connected together by cross-pieces 3. Theforward end of the frame is supported by caster-wheels 4 and hasattached to it a draft appliance 5, while the rear of the frame issupported by a roller 6, having intermediate its ends an annular swell7, for a purpose hereinafter to appear.

8 denotes the plow-beam,hin ged to the front cross-bar and releasablyconnected to the intermediate cross-bar by a suitable fasteningconsisting, preferably, of a keeper 9 and a pivoted latch secured to thebeam. Secured to and projecting downwardly from the beam is aditching-plow 10, which may be of any wellknown or approved constructionand is provided with a fixed colter 11.

As the machine is drawn along, the plow will make the ditch, and thewalls of this ditch will be made smooth or pressed tightly by theannular bulge of the roller which follows in the line of the plow. Toprevent dirt adhering to the roller, a cleaner 12, consisting of a bar13, is arranged immediately at the rear of the roller in such relationto its periphery as to scrape off any soil which may adhere thereto.

When it is desired to move the machine from one place to another, theplow-beam is unfastened from the intermediate cross-bar and is elevatedby a hand-lever 14:, which is provided with a pawl 15, working on asegmental raok 16, secured to a bar 17. The lower end of the lever isprovided with a hit erally-projecting arm 18, which projects under theplow-beam and holds the same elevated, so that the machine may be drawnalong roads and through fields without the plow entering the soil.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, andadvantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiringa more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of constructionmaybe made within the scope of the invention without departingfrom thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

In a ditchingmachine, the combination with the main frame, of wheelssupporting the forward end thereof, a roller supporting the rear endthereof and formed with an annular bulge, a plow-beam hinged at one endto the main frame and provided with a standard, means for releasablyconnecting it atits other end to the main frame, a plow carried by thesaid standard in line with the annular bulge of the roller, and meansfor holding the plow in elevated position free from contact with theground, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing wit- HGSSGS.

D. J. HOFFMAN. J. W. HELM. \Vitnesses:

FRED BARTI-IELL, R. BARTHELL.

